Truth Isn’t Always Stranger Than Fiction
Me with my Editor
This book aims to teach little kids the difference between facts and opinions. It does a good job. Of course the facts are limited to what you can see, like how many eyes does a robot have in a given picture or what color is the robot. Things that can generally be agreed upon. (Though my color blind husband may tell you the green robot is gray.) You can learn more about this book here.
I’m in the midst of writing what I think is an Informational Fiction book on early female puberty. (Think Judy Blume meets a Science Comic meets Big Nate.) In Info Fiction, facts and information are presented within a fictional story. Man, it’s hard. It’s hard to make the facts fun and engaging sometimes.
That’s why I’m starting to bow down to excellent nonfiction writers! Nonfiction books must be scrupulously researched and then fact checked. Many nonfiction writers I know say they spend more time on the research than on writing the actual book. This is especially true when writing for kids where editorial standards are often higher. And they have to constantly think about will this engage AND educate the reader?
Maybe that’s why facts are being turned into colorful opinions now. Because we can’t engage with dense academic text anymore. In an age where we get most of our news from comedic news shows (I know I do cuz the news is too upsetting) like the Daily Show, or my favorite, Bill Maher, it’s no wonder journalists and reporters, who now have to get high ratings and make money or be ousted, have become color commentators on the sport known as life. I guess it explains why a reality star is President too.
So I wonder how much longer traditional nonfiction can keep on keeping on? Sure biographies sell, but they have to have their spicy bits orthey won’t sell well. (Remember Oprah’s book pick A Million Little Pieces that was a fictional memoir masquerading as a factual one? He tried to sell it as fiction, but no one wanted it. The moment he turned it into salacious memoir it sold.) But straightforward books on the ocean, space, or your esophagus?
And if we adults are having trouble interacting with facts, how on earth can we teach our kids to do it?
Really, I’m asking you for suggestions. Which filters do you use to get your facts, or the ‘true news’? How do you evaluate if you’re getting close to the truth from your trusted sources? How do you test a fact to make sure it’s not an opinion?
Ugh. Even I don’t want to crack this one…though I do have health anxiety so that is part of it. (Ignorance can be bliss for me.)
RADICAL RESOURCES FROM THE LIBRARY: Libraries keep on top of current events and holidays in order to create displays to help our patrons either learn about an event, or easily find books on a specific topic/person.
YouTube Video of the Week: RGB on all things Ruth. Courtesy of PBS Click on the image and enjoy!
